Clinicians

Alan M. Levin, JD, MA, LCSW, is a lawyer* and a therapist. He is a licensed clinical social worker. He spent over three decades practicing law in Chicago, as an associate, partner, mentor, senior name partner, member of the executive committee, and chair of the ethics committee of a respected mid-size firm. In his law practice, he also represented law firms. Having previously received his BA from Yale University and his JD from the University of Chicago Law School, Alan concluded his law practice for the sole purpose of obtaining his master’s degree in social work, with a clinical concentration, from the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration, where he was trained in multiple modes of therapy and counseling. He works with men and women of all ages experiencing many kinds of distress, from mild anxiety and difficulty with relationships and life’s changes, to depression and panic attacks, as well as various forms of mental illness. Since 2002, Alan has been a facilitator of men’s experiential weekends designed to address the emotional and relational needs of men, under the auspices of Victories of the Heart, NFP. He has been involved in the men’s movement since 1997, and is currently a co-leader of men’s weekends. Alan serves on the boards of Victories of the Heart and the Center for Advancing Domestic Peace, of which he is a past chairman. He is a member of both the National Association of Social Workers and the Chicago Bar Association. Alan also is a part-time therapist at a community mental health center, where he serves clients regardless of ability to pay.

Gayle L. Victor, JD, MSW, is a lawyer** and a therapist. She practiced law for 25 years in Chicago, managing a small law firm after completing a judicial clerkship in the United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois. She obtained her JD from The John Marshall Law School in Chicago and her BA from Washington University in St. Louis. Gayle left the practice of law to study clinical social work at Loyola University, Chicago, where she received her MSW and trained in multiple theories of psychotherapy, specializing in adult mental health with a concentration in substance abuse. Gayle has worked with women, men, couples and groups - anyone facing depression, anxiety, addictions, grief and loss and those going through life transitions, relationship difficulties or other challenges. She enjoys the collaborative process when working with individuals seeking life or executive coaching, and has experience with group and individual counseling in Level I, II, and III substance use treatment programs. Gayle had prior work experience in many aspects of human resources administration and conducted legal search and recruiting for major law firms and corporate law departments for several years, consulting on matters of staffing, organization, and law firm culture. She has long been interested in issues surrounding women’s empowerment and has co-facilitated a women’s support group. She has done advanced work in group process at Northwestern University's Center for Applied Psychological and Family Studies. Gayle is a certified mediator, having completed mediation skills training in the Professional Development Program at Northwestern University and divorce and child custody training through the Mediation Training & Consultation Institute. She is a member of the Chicago Bar Association and the National Association of Social Workers.

*   Because he now exclusively practices therapy, Alan has elected inactive status as a lawyer.
** Although she no longer practices law, Gayle maintains her active status and is a registered attorney.

Clinical Director

Steve Wallman, LCSW, is a psychotherapist in private practice in Evanston and Chicago. He concentrates his practice on relationship issues, major life transitions and general counseling for individuals, couples, families and groups, with an additional emphasis on issues of divorce. Steve is an experienced group leader and leads groups to help clients work through family of origin issues that contribute to being blocked in current relationships while learning to stand up for oneself to communicate needs and maintain connection. The groups help avoid repeating unhealthy relationship patterns and establish appropriate boundaries, and provide a safe space to receive honest feedback. Steve has a master’s degree in clinical social work from the University of Chicago, School of Social Service Administration, is a licensed clinical social worker, and has a post-graduate certificate from the Chicago Center for Family Health, Methods of Family & Couples Therapy. He is also the  clinical consultant with The Full Picture. The Full Picture helps organizations identify the business issues that prevent individual leaders within organizations from achieving the company’s goals and objectives. The process can  assure that the individuals within the organization clearly understand and manage the personal issues that prohibit them from helping the company reach or maintain its goals and objectives. (Please visit  www.thefullpicture.biz to learn more about this work.) Steve has been involved in the men’s movement since 1985, and is a facilitator of experiential weekends addressing the emotional and relational needs of men. He is currently a co-leader of men’s weekends under the auspices of Victories of the Heart, NFP. Steve was formerly responsible for the administration of the Illinois Department of Human Services and Mayor’s Office of Workforce Development contracts providing vocational technical education to disadvantaged at-risk minority in-school youth at Youth Guidance in Chicago.  He has led numerous seminars and workshops for clients and professionals, and is an instructor with the Professional Development Program at the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration  He is a member of the National Association of Social Workers.